What is this about?
A few evenings each year, California needs more electricity than its power plants can deliver. The Emergency Load Reduction Program pays homes with battery storage to share stored energy on those evenings.
The program was created by the California Public Utilities Commission and is run by Southern California Edison.
During an event
An event is called
May through October, between 4 PM and 9 PM. Events typically last 1 to 5 hours.
Your battery shares stored energy
Nothing in your home is switched off.
You are paid
Payment is based on the energy your battery shared.
Your home does not lose power
What it pays
Up to $2 per kilowatt-hour your battery shares during an event. Depending on the size of the system, that is roughly $16 to $450 per event.
More than event payments
Hosting battery storage on your home comes with benefits outside of events.
A locked in electricity rate
Your agreement with an approved aggregator locks in your electricity rate at an approved rate. You keep that rate when Edison raises its rates. The rate is set for each home at the home visit.
Credit for power you send back
When your system sends extra power to the grid you earn export credits on your Edison bill under California's Net Billing Tariff.
This program is about battery storage
The program needs the battery to be full when the grid calls on it. It does not matter what charged it. Batteries can be charged from:
- Solar
- Wind
- Micro-hydro
- Fuel cells
- Microturbines / CHP
- Biogas
- Geothermal
- Backup generators
- The grid
The home visit
A representative working with an approved aggregator visits your home. The visit is free.
Equipment
We verify which equipment your home qualifies for.
Discount
We show you how much of a discount you would get.
References
Official program documents and related pages.
California Public Utilities Commission
- Emergency Load Reduction Program
- Emergency Load Reduction Program data and information
- Proposed decision in proceeding R.25-09-004 (PDF)
Southern California Edison
- Emergency Load Reduction Program website
- Program frequently asked questions
- Aggregator and demand response provider questions
- Group A terms and conditions (PDF)
- Group B terms and conditions (PDF)
Other program pages
- San Diego Gas and Electric Group A terms and conditions (PDF)
- Tesla virtual power plant with Southern California Edison
- Tesla Cybertruck Powershare virtual power plant
- Utility Dive coverage of Ford electric vehicle owners and demand response
Why the program exists
- California Public Utilities Commission program fact sheet (PDF)
- California Public Utilities Commission summer reliability
- State agencies report on the causes of the August 2020 rotating outages (PDF)
Rates and billing
- California Public Utilities Commission net energy metering and net billing
- Southern California Edison rates advisory
- Public Advocates Office 2026 second quarter electric rates report
- Southern California Edison solar billing and incentives
Battery storage incentives
- California Public Utilities Commission Self-Generation Incentive Program
- Self-Generation Incentive Program statewide website